ACC probing irregularities in plot allocations
Friday, 21 November 2008
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into alleged irregularities in plot allotment to some 100 individuals, including senior bureaucrats, judges, military and police officials, reports UNB.
ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told its regular briefing Thursday that a special team formed to look into corruption in land ministry detected that plots have been allocated to these officials illegally.
The officials include former and serving secretaries, additional secretaries, joint secretaries, deputy secretaries, wife of a divisional commissioner, district and sessions judge, joint district judge, military officers, OCs, municipal administrator, officials of Delta Life Insurance, officials of Islamic Foundation, officials of Cooperative department, Water Development Board director, upazila nirbahi officer, employees of Narayanganj district administration and drivers of the government transport pool.
According to the ACC team, some 18.66 acres of land were acquired in Narayanganj district in 2000-2001 for a housing project of a multipurpose cooperative society for the officials and employees of the land ministry.
But the government suffered a loss of Tk 8.13 million in revenue due to irregularities in acquiring the land. The involvement of the then deputy commissioner of Narayanganj, additional deputy commissioner (revenue), land acquisition officer, additional land acquisition officer and other officials and employees was found in the irregularities.
Although they were not members of the society, they got plots in the housing project in reward for their immoral deeds. The 100 officials were illegally allocated plots in the project even though they were not members of the society in favour of which the land was acquired, according to the ACC team.
It appears that there is no legal basis of giving permission for acquisition of land in favour of a particular society. The ACC has initiated the process of seeking explanation from the land ministry about the plot allotment to non-member 100 individuals.
Wealth statements of govt servants
Meanwhile, nearly nine months have elapsed since some 1.2 million government employees and officials have submitted their wealth statements, but the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) is yet to know from the government as to how this matter would be resolved.
The last date for submitting wealth statements by the government employees and officials expired on February 29 this year.
ACC director general (Admn) Col Hanif Iqbal told the regular briefing Thursday afternoon that the Commission sought recommendations from the government as to how the issue would be resolved. Based on that, the Cabinet Division sought advice from all the ministries concerned.
The anti-graft watchdog is yet to be informed by the Cabinet Division about the feedbacks from the ministries.
Col Hanif said the ACC had so far sent 229 names to the Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) for considering their clemency applications and another 40 applications were scheduled to be sent Thursday, the last day for filing clemency applications.
Another 25 applications were under process, he said, adding that the list of these individuals was scheduled to be sent Thursday and the relevant documents would be sent later.
The ACC spokesperson said the Commission had approved issuance of notices to 20 individuals directing them to submit their wealth statements. They include politicians, government officials and an employee of the ACC.
ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told its regular briefing Thursday that a special team formed to look into corruption in land ministry detected that plots have been allocated to these officials illegally.
The officials include former and serving secretaries, additional secretaries, joint secretaries, deputy secretaries, wife of a divisional commissioner, district and sessions judge, joint district judge, military officers, OCs, municipal administrator, officials of Delta Life Insurance, officials of Islamic Foundation, officials of Cooperative department, Water Development Board director, upazila nirbahi officer, employees of Narayanganj district administration and drivers of the government transport pool.
According to the ACC team, some 18.66 acres of land were acquired in Narayanganj district in 2000-2001 for a housing project of a multipurpose cooperative society for the officials and employees of the land ministry.
But the government suffered a loss of Tk 8.13 million in revenue due to irregularities in acquiring the land. The involvement of the then deputy commissioner of Narayanganj, additional deputy commissioner (revenue), land acquisition officer, additional land acquisition officer and other officials and employees was found in the irregularities.
Although they were not members of the society, they got plots in the housing project in reward for their immoral deeds. The 100 officials were illegally allocated plots in the project even though they were not members of the society in favour of which the land was acquired, according to the ACC team.
It appears that there is no legal basis of giving permission for acquisition of land in favour of a particular society. The ACC has initiated the process of seeking explanation from the land ministry about the plot allotment to non-member 100 individuals.
Wealth statements of govt servants
Meanwhile, nearly nine months have elapsed since some 1.2 million government employees and officials have submitted their wealth statements, but the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) is yet to know from the government as to how this matter would be resolved.
The last date for submitting wealth statements by the government employees and officials expired on February 29 this year.
ACC director general (Admn) Col Hanif Iqbal told the regular briefing Thursday afternoon that the Commission sought recommendations from the government as to how the issue would be resolved. Based on that, the Cabinet Division sought advice from all the ministries concerned.
The anti-graft watchdog is yet to be informed by the Cabinet Division about the feedbacks from the ministries.
Col Hanif said the ACC had so far sent 229 names to the Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) for considering their clemency applications and another 40 applications were scheduled to be sent Thursday, the last day for filing clemency applications.
Another 25 applications were under process, he said, adding that the list of these individuals was scheduled to be sent Thursday and the relevant documents would be sent later.
The ACC spokesperson said the Commission had approved issuance of notices to 20 individuals directing them to submit their wealth statements. They include politicians, government officials and an employee of the ACC.